Golden Eagles rout No. 20 Hokies; down Maine in afternoon cap, 5-3

Feb 07, 2009

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Sophomore Callie Schmidt's three-run home
run was one of 11 hits by Tennessee Tech as the Golden Eagles
cruised to a 15-0, five-inning victory over No. 20 Virginia Tech
Saturday morning in the UTC Tournament. Schmidt led the team at the
plate, going 2-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs. Freshman
Whitney Cummings also had a huge game as she went 3-for-4 in the
game with a pair of doubles, scoring three runs and driving in two
more.

Defensively, sophomore Maddie Schmissrauter pitched a five-inning
shutout, allowing only four hits and three walks while striking out
three.

It was the most lopsided loss by the Hokies since Mar. 18, 2007,
when they gave up 21 to Georgia Tech.

The game was tied after the first inning, but it was all Tech from
there on out. After a leadoff double by Cummings, sophomore Kaleigh
Gates reached on an error by the shortstop, putting herself on
second and allowing Cummings to score. With two outs and a full
count, sophomore Katie Betry singled down the left field line,
driving in Gates and putting the Golden Eagles up 2-0.

The offensive display didn’t stop there as Tech proceeded to
put up ten more runs in the third and fourth innings. After a
two-run double by Cummings that scored sophomore Lacie Coquerille
and freshman Cassidy Skeen, Gates drew a walk, setting up Schmidt
for a three-run blast to left center.

In the fourth, Tech took advantage of four Virginia Tech errors,
scoring five unearned runs after two quick outs. With the bases
loaded, Schmidt reached on an error by third baseman Alicia Field,
and advanced all the runners up one base, scoring Thomas. In the
very next at-bat, Schmissrauter reached on an error by second
baseman Kristen Froehlich, driving in Gates and Cummings. Field
committed another error at third when she couldn’t handle the
ball hit by Betry, allowing Schmidt to cross the plate. After a
single by freshman Jordan Leff, the bases were loaded for Skeen who
drew a walk to score Schmissrauter, with the score showing
12-0.

The scoring finally came to an end in the fifth as Tech mercy-ruled
the Hokies. After walks by Thomas and Gates and singles by Schmidt
and Betry, Tech had extended its lead to 14-0. The final run of the
contest came when center-fielder Richelle McGarva dropped a ball
hit by Leff, scoring Schmidt for the ninth unearned run of the
game.

The Golden Eagles (2-2) then defeated the Black Bears of Maine
(1-3) by a score of 5-3. Schmissrauter and Betry each drove in
runs, as did Leff and Skeen. Tech scored five runs on five hits and
no errors were committed in the game.

Freshman Holly Thomas pitched six innings, striking out eight while
only allowing two runs. At the plate, Thomas drew her fourth and
fifth walks of the season in only 13 plate appearances. Senior
Kristina Hortert came in to relieve Thomas in the seventh, giving
up one run on one hit, but striking out a pair. The Golden Eagle
defense forced Maine to strand seven on base.

The first numbers placed on the scoreboard came in the top of the
third inning when Ashley Waters hit a two-run home run for the
Black Bears to put them on top 2-0.

In the fourth, Tech responded with a barrage of base runners. After
a sacrifice fly by Betry and back-to-back singles by Leff and
Skeen, the Golden Eagles had built up a 4-2 lead. Leff added one
more when she scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the
inning.

Thomas and Hortert each threw two strikeouts in the sixth and
seventh, respectively, sealing the deal for Tech, 5-3.

The Golden Eagles will see their next action on Sunday as they face
host UT Chattanooga (3-1) at 2:30